The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Men’s basketball on a roll

Alum makes impact with IJM

Five Nights at Freddy’s Frenzy

SPORTS

COMMUNITY

ENTERTAINMENT

Team has best start since 17-18 Sim fights global injustice

The

@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, December 1, 2023

Film leaves fans dissapointed

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 109, No. 9

‘And the Award Goes to ...’

Orchesis

embodies EGOT theme

Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

time noticed and they said, ‘Hey, we should keep an eye on him.’ I thought it was really cool and I just kept building relationships with the people in the cast. It became part of campus life for me and super integral to how

Two Grove City College students, junior Connor Rodgers and freshman Sophia Cappawanna, have been elected to their hometowns’ councils. when?

Rodgers is a native of Jim Thorpe, Pa., located in Eastern Pa., about 35 miles northwest of Allentown.

“Jim Thorpe is consistently ranked one of the best towns in Pennsylvania and is regarded as a top tier travel destination in the state from its beauty, natural scenery, and abundance of activities,” Rodgers said. “Despite this, there are many issues and problems the town faces that need to be addressed,” he continued.

Rodgers looks forward to serving the community of almost 5000 as one of seven council members. While Grove City may be over six hours away from Jim Thorpe, Rodgers was inspired to take on this position after working in his town’s borough operations and a continued drive to serve others.

Rodgers accredits both his education at the college and the community of Jim Thorpe with giving him this responsibility.

“Grove City College has provided me with many skills that I look forward to implementing into my duties as a member. I am truly blessed by the opportunity to serve and appreciative of the voters who have elected me.”

Cappawanna is a sixthgeneration resident of Duncannon, Pa., a town of about 2000 located north of Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River.

“Duncannon is one of four or five towns that the Appalachian Trail goes right through. The trail goes right in front of my house. As a sixth-generation resident,

ORCHESIS 2

GROVERS 3

Violet Whitmore News Editor

Orchesis is in the spotlight this fall with familiar performances that will leave audiences wishing they could rewind and watch again.

Following popular nominated or award-winning music from the four major American performing arts awards the dance numbers will be from the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.

These categories are known for television, recording, film, and Broadway theatre excellence. The Orchesis team’s fitting theme is “And the Award Goes to…”, which aims to celebrate these popular forms of award-winning media.

“We have dances that have all been nominated or won one of these categories,” cosenior head Kaylin Boring said. “It was fun to pick the theme because we like the theatrical aspects, but also the fact that the audience will know most of the songs and the dances so they can feel part of the show.”

The show will feature old and new songs from musicals, movies, television and popular music from various arenas. Older songs like Ella Fitzgerald’s “It’s a Lovely Day Today” and scores from classic productions like “Hairspray” all find a place in the performance.

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing how this show has come together. The award show theme is definitely a unique one because each section has their own little spin on it, but I think they all are very cohesive to make the whole show what it is,” junior head Caroline Dawson said. “I

Grovers take on town councils

OLIVIA NICHOLAS

Junior Makenna Isles from the Orchesis dance group practices on stage during a dress rehearsal. have loved to see it grow production wise and how much progress we have made from the other years before. It’s just come such a long way.”

Co-senior head Tim Buonaugurio first auditioned as a freshman, not anticipating how involved he would get with the dance group.

“I first auditioned when I was a freshman for the spring show because of Covid, so I didn’t get to audition for the fall. I tried for the spring, got cut, and tried again in the fall of my sophomore year. And I got in and I just put everything I had for it,” he said.

“The junior heads at the

Light Up Night Violet Whitmore News Editor

Despite the sun setting earlier as winter approaches, Grove City College’s annual Light Up Night brought brightness to campus through holiday spirit.

The College held Light Up Night Tuesday, Nov. 28, on the patio of Mary Anderson Pew Hall South. Families and students visited to celebrate the festivities at 6 p.m. and indulged in popular wintertime treats such as hot chocolate, cookies, hot cider, and candy canes.

The free event featured music from The Wolver-

ine marching band and was accompanied by the KGT (Koinonia Gospel Team) choir. The groups performed numerous Christmastime songs, such as “Away in a Manger”, “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”. Guests were invited to sing with the choir in a Christmas carol type fashion.

“I’d say that my favorite piece that we played was “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”! It’s just a classic Christmas song. Plus, the tubas get a fun run, granted my valves froze from the cold,” Junior and euphonium playLIGHT UP NIGHT 3

Campus Safety Officer Jim Dickson brings festive cheer to Light Up Night.

TAVA DERR

Editorial

Page 2

The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Dec. 1, 2023

From the Tower

Look up

I took physics in my junior year of high school. At the beginning of every class, my teacher, Mrs. Powell, would show us NASA’s “Space Photo of the Day.” She instilled in my classmates and me a deeper appreciation for the stars above us, and on one of the last days of class, she advised each of us to “Look up as you live your life.”

This simple sentence has stayed with me for the past four years and it’s something I frequently remind myself of. Not only was my teacher encouraging us to admire God’s creation, but she was also reminding us to not keep our noses to the ground and go through life unaware of the greater things around us.

We are now entering the final stretch of the semester, which is the busiest, most stressful and brain-scrambling time of the year. It is also the beginning of the Christmas season. Every year our social media feeds are flooded with admonitions to “remember the reason for the season.”

This conveniently rhyming phrase has become so ubiquitous that it now goes in one ear and out the other. How can we afford to look up from our textbooks or away from our computers when each of us has several exams, multiple papers and dozens of assignments to complete before we finish the semester?

Overachieving Grovers with eighteen credits and seventeen extracurriculars will always shove their noses deeper in their textbooks and further into the stacks of Buhl Library during finals season but look up every once in a while.

When you’re trudging to class at 8 a.m. in five layers of clothes and wind slapping you in the face, look up.

When you’re typing up the final paragraphs of a paper in the pews of Harbison (don’t lie, we all do it), look up.

When you’re making your week’s tenth to-do list and debating whether or not to ask your professor for an extension, look up.

When the little clock at the bottom of your screen tells you it’s 2 a.m. and you still have forty slides to review, look up.

All it takes is a moment, just a glance, to be reminded of what makes Christmas important. The campus is decorated from the field house to Hicks with Christmas trees and holly wreaths and lit-up garlands.

The hallway corkboards are lined with flyers about Christmas concerts, parties and worship opportunities to enjoy before finals week. Despite how full your assignment’s tab on D2L is, you can take a moment to just look up as you live your life for these next few weeks.

Life is much fuller, much greater and much more interesting than Microsoft One Note and a Western Civ reader, and those things are made a little easier to stare at when you take your eyes away from them for a little bit.

It’s easy to be blinded by the stress of this season, but clearer vision can be gained from a different perspective, so instead of constantly looking down for these next two weeks, look up as you live your life, even if it’s just for a moment.

Emma Rossi

Editor-in-Chief

Collegian Staff Editor-in-Chief

Business Manager

Managing Editor

Copy Editors

Emma Rossi

Ayden Gutierrez

Section Editors News Violet Whitmore

Maercy Campion

Mia Gallagher Melody Shillito Kathryna Hoyman Hannah Williams

Staff Writers

Entertainment Vincent Clay

David Smith Dom Puglisi Garret Gess Mia Gallagher Abigail Joyner Hunter Oswald Brae Sadler Helena Ritenour

Sports

Staff Photographers

Community Emily Fox

Perspectives Grace Scheller

Joel Sledd

Photo Chief Grace David

Copy Chief

Hannah Welker

Tava Derr Hunter Hardin Mia Campagna Elizabeth Hasse

Staff Adviser

Nick Hildebrand

The Collegian is the student newspaper of Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa. Opinions appearing on these pages, unless expressly stated otherwise, represent the views of individual writers. They are not the collective views of The Collegian, its staff or Grove City College.

the Green

Eyeshade Award This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Entertainment Editor Vince Clay for his eye for design and always clever coverage of American pop culture.

The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

CLAY

HANNAH WELKER

Don’t scrub the mold Hannah Welker Copy Chief

Persistent pain, constant headaches, excessive hair shedding, brittle nails, brain fog, food sensitivities, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations and memory loss. Those are all symptoms of the littleknown Lymes Disease and its menacing counterpart mold toxicity.

For over a year, I have been struggling with each and every one of these symptoms.

I visited doctors, ran labs, drew blood and even broke down crying in the office of a useless PA who offered me birth control for my tickborne illness. It wasn’t until 10 months into my health crisis that I finally found answers. I had been bitten by a tick almost a year prior to the diagnosis. Once I found the root of the problem, I began a lengthy treatment process, one I am still undergoing.

Lymes Disease is a flu-like sickness that comes from the bite of an infected tick. It is, unfortunately, a tricky thing to diagnose. Usually, when it is treated with antibiotics within a week of the bite, the disease goes away like nothing ever happened. However, if – like me – you didn’t know you were bitten and got Covid at the same time you got Lyme, it can go under the radar. If this happens, the bacteria will take up permanent residence in your body and you’ll have it for the rest of your life.

The chronic illness functions much like chicken pox

ORCHESIS

continued from 1 I stay involved on campus.”

Because the group is under the theater department, the special effects are a special plus for Orchesis. The technical, design and lighting production crews all help to transition dances and change the mood. In addition, two emcees will help introduce the different themes and guide the audience through a night of classic performances.

in that if you get chicken pox as a child, you’ll get shingles later in life because the bacteria lies dormant in the body. Lyme flare-ups can be triggered by stress, a nonnutritious diet, a lack of adequate sleep or a mix of all three. The goal of treatment is remission because eradication is not possible.

The symptoms of chronic Lyme can be debilitating, and doctors simply haven’t researched it enough to spot them leading many with chronic Lyme to struggle for years without a diagnosis. Not only is it underresearched, but it also mimics several other issues like hypothyroidism, PCOS and even excessive stress. The blood test is often performed incorrectly leading to inconclusive results. So, although the past year of my life has been a health nightmare, I am lucky to have found a doctor who considered Lyme a possibility.

After a month of antibiotics and supplements, treatment became ineffective. My doctor suspected mold.

Mold does not grow overnight, nor is it the result of neglectful cleaning processes. Mold grows in stuffy, damp areas that have not been properly ventilated for an extended period of time.

It can be in bathrooms, ceilings or anywhere where water is present without a way of escape.

Mold toxicity is even less researched than Lyme. 25 percent of the population has a genetic disposition making them more likely to be severely affected by mold.

Mold toxicity results from living in a home with mold and breathing in the mold for

an extended period of time, usually about six months to a year. Respiratory issues, sinus problems, sore throats, headaches, body aches and fatigue are among the many symptoms. Not only does mold have detrimental effects on day-to-day life, but it also makes healing from any other sickness nearly impossible.

Mold acts as a “hiding place” for other pathogens.

Let’s say someone totally random had both Lyme and mold toxicity. The Lyme bacteria will hide out in the mold because white blood cells are unable to kill the mold and whatever is inside of it. This means that, unless you kill the mold, you have no hope of ever getting better from Lyme.

You’ve read the entirety of this article and now, you’re remembering that you’ve been noticing black growth in the corners of your unventilated bathroom in MAP West. You’ve been feeling like you might be a little short of breath when you typically wouldn’t be. You’ve noticed that you consistently wake up with sore throats and a stuffy nose that only goes away when you leave your room. It might be worth a test.

Contact your doctor and schedule an appointment with Quest Diagnostics to have a blood lab done. If you suspect your room has mold, Immunolytics offers test kits and results within two weeks to confirm or deny your suspicion. No matter what your RA says, do not try to scrub the mold out yourself unless you have taken proper safety precautions.

“They’re just stellar and especially because they have la very small amount of time to turn over from the musical. They did all of ‘Sound of Music’ and then they turned around and did all of this design work and lighting. There are over 300 cues of lighting in the show,” Dawson said.

For most members, however, the performance itself is only a small part of their commitment to the group.

“The dancers are just so much fun to work with and the community we have is

really unmatched,” Dawson said. “We all share the passion for dance and love to share it with the campus community and it’s really special.”

Orchesis Dance Company will perform their fall showcase “And the Award Goes to…” on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 1 and 7 p.m. in Ketler Auditorium in the Pew Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are available for free online.

Correction

from Nov. 10 issue; caption from Sound of Music photos Above: Maria (Mary Margaret Bargery) and the Von Trapp children perform ‘Lonely Goatherd.’

Below left: The Baroness Schraeder (Whitney Leonard) and Max Detweiler (Johnny Adkins) on stage.

News The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 3

Challenge tests physics knowledge Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

The Physics Department and Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E+I) concluded the second annual SAFR (Strength and Force Reduction) Challenge on Thursday, Oct. 26.

The SAFR Challenge tests students’ innovation skills when applied to physics. This year’s first-place position was awarded to seniors Eden Kleiman, Annie-Grace Smith and Aiden Kramer.

This year’s challenge was for students to design and build a headband that could reduce the prevalence of concussions in collegiate soccer players. Dr. Shane Brower and Dr. Glenn Marsch oversaw the initial stages of the challenge on behalf of the Physics Department.

The SAFR Challenge began last year in Dr. Brower’s Fundamentals of the Universe class. This year, 56 students broken up into 19 teams competed in the Challenge, with seven teams earning a spot in the final stage, where they worked with E+I to present their designs to a panel of judges.

GROVERS

continued from 1

I’m related to a lot of my constituents. This adds a different level of responsibility when it comes to serving my community. My family is invested in Duncannon.”

Cappawanna’s great grandfather, grandfather, father and mother have all served their community as elected officials, and this heritage, combined with passion derived from her previous experiences in Duncannon led her to reach for a position on the town council.

“I have been a junior council member in the borough of Duncannon since seventh grade. I was given the responsibility to plan the town-

This year’s judges were Dr. Jeffrey Buxton of the Exercise Science Department, Grove City High School boys’ soccer coach James Irani and Grove City High School girls’ coach Darcie Holmes.

Kleiman, a member of the first-place team, spoke highly of the experience. “The biggest takeaway is how much fun and creativity can be involved in the ‘scientific process.’ As a business major, I try to stay away from STEMrelated projects as I feel underqualified and rather silly trying to embark on topics that I am generally unfamiliar with,” said Kleiman.

“Had I not been in this class and required to create this project, I would have never have even considered it a possibility. To utilize skills, I have gained in the business world such as presentation, public speaking and marketing with the new knowledge from this class was very fun and rewarding.”

Smith felt similarly. “My biggest takeaway from the process is how important hands-on learning is. I do not believe that I would’ve learned as much as I did or even had fun learning about wide yard sale each year and chaired the Halloween parade one year. These responsibilities showed me what it was like to be a Council member and inspired me to run in this election.”

While serving on the council, Cappawanna will work alongside her fellow council members and the community through her work with various committees.

“I am mostly interested in the Parks and Recreation committee and the Infrastructure Committee. I had a five-month engineering internship with the Borough’s engineering firm my sophomore year of high school.”

Cappawanna sees the difference her Grove City edu-

First place winners pose with their winning checks. force reduction without the SAFR challenge. I really enjoyed testing out our headband and working as a team to figure out what it looked like to help prevent concussions even from the conceptual level.”

Both Smith and Kleiman appreciated the process of creating their design and working with their team.

With intentions to keep their design simple while still applying what they had learned from their research, they

conducted experiments during their lab classes.

“We first determined which combination of materials was going to reduce the force the most by dropping a mannequin head from a constant height and recording the maximum force from those material combinations,” explained Smith.

“We did some online searches to find out what concussion reduction headbands look like for most soccer players and modeled our

own headband after that.

After creating the headband, we tested it with the mannequin head again from the same distance.”

Kleiman most enjoyed the last stage of the challenge, in which teams presented their headbands.

“We had the most fun with the PowerPoint, using ourselves as the models for the headband and using a fun, colorful theme to showcase our product and its unique name.”

cation has made for her throughout this process, and trusts that as she completes her education here, she will grow in her capacity to serve Duncannon.

“My education at Grove City showed me the importance of not only being diligent in my studies, but also being active in my social and political community. I am thankful for the professors I’ve met thus far who have knowledge and experience to mentor me,” Cappawanna said. “(It) is not only helpful, but vital, in solidifying my goals and helping me attain the professional credentials needed to further serve my community.”

LIGHT UP NIGHT

Involvement Team) helped set up and tear down the decorations at the event and managed guests. “It was really fun to decorate even though it was super cold. It was a super fun and bonding for the Student Involvement Team. The best thing I ate was the brownies. They were so good—best I’ve had in a long time.”

Officer Jim Dickson, who dressed as Santa Claus for the event, handed out candy canes and monitored the event. “The music was amazing,” he said. “But I’m not a very good Santa Claus.”

Campus preps for Christmas events Ayden Gutierrez Managing Editor

Grove City College’s Christmas efforts are in full force as the campus community prepares for the holiday season. The college has a full slate of events scheduled to help bring the Christmas spirit to Grove City.

The annual Light Up Night was held on Tuesday and saw the star atop Rockwell lit for all of campus to see. Light Up Night features a traditional Christmas carol sing-along led by the College’s Marching Band, snacks and hot chocolate, a gospel message, and the annual recitation of J.M. Lowrie’s “Star in the East” just before the star is lit.

Tonight, the annual Okie Sig Pi Christmas Party is being held in Ketler Rec Room from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Christmas Choral Concert will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Harbison Chapel. The music will consist of “Gloria!” featuring the College Concert Choir, Touring Choir and Chamber Singers.

According to the college,

“The Concert and Touring Choirs will each present settings of the festive “Gloria” text – Vivaldi’s exciting setting from the Baroque era and Randol Alan Bass’s contemporary arrangement.”

The Carnegie Christmas Concerts will be held Monday through Friday of this coming week in the Carnegie Colonnade from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. daily. Each day’s performance is open to public, as spectators are encouraged to hear students celebrate the season with music and song, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.

Monday’s concert will consist of various vocalists, Tuesday’s will feature the Gallery Brass and Grove City College Singers, Wednesday will see the String Quartet perform, Thursday’s performance will see Saxophone Quintet, Trumpet Ensemble, and Revelation Ringers perform, and the series will conclude Friday with the Touring Choir.

The Student Government Association is also hosting an SGA Christmas Coffee House

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

on Wednesday night.

Next Friday, the Music and Fine Arts Department is putting on “A Musical Christmas at Grove City College” in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The Concert Choir, GCC Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Stage Band, Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra will all be featured. Over 150 individual students are participating in the performance.

Student Life and Learning is also hosting a Christmas Movie Night in Staley Hall of Arts and Letters from 8:00 – 10:30 p.m. The College will once again be doing its candlelight service next Sunday, with two separate services starting at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. respectively.

According to the college, the program will consist of Christmas liturgy, an array of hymns and music and the passing of candlelight throughout the chapel. Members of the Christian Formation staff, Student Ministry Council, Worship Team, and Global Outreach will serve the light.

continued from 1

er Lea Kakolewski said.

The night concluded with a gospel message and the lighting of the huge LED star on top of Rockwell Hall of Science. Before the star was lit, J.M. Lowrie’s “Star in the East”, a hymn that encapsulates the reason behind the celebration, was recited. The East Star is a symbol of the first Christmas, a navigation guide that the shepherds and wise men used to find Christ in Bethlehem.

Junior Grace Skyes, a member of the SIC (Student

Community The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 4

Upcoming Events...

What’s fresh at the Grove?

Orchesis

7 - 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 & 2 and 1-3 p.m.

Dec. 2 PFAC

Okie Sig Pi Christmas Party 7 - 10 p.m.

Dec. 1 Ketler Rec

Possum Hall Escape Room

7 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Dec. 1 & 2 and 7 - 10 p.m.

Dec. 3 Third Floor Ketler

An Evening of Holiday Song

7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 Arnold Recital Hall PFAC

AEX vs. Rho Football Game 8 p.m.

Dec. 1

Thorn Field

Fall Choral Concert 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 3 Harbison Chapel

Lunch and Learn 11 - 11:45 a.m.

Dec. 4 STU

SGA Christmas Coffee House 5 - 9 p.m.

Dec. 6 STU

Musical Theater Workshop 7 - 11 p.m.

Dec. 6 PFAC 21

Christmas Dodgeball Tourney 7 p.m.

Dec. 8

IM Rooms

ETHAN DAVID

The Tri-Rho housing group defeated AEX at last year’s annual football game. AEX hopes to “bring it home” tonight to reclaim the covetted tray.

Thirty years of rivalry

AEX hopes to reclaim the tray from the Rhos Abigail Joyner

“Such a game Today will be the culmina- is often tion of many months of labor by two men’s housing groups portrayed in on campus; at 8:30 p.m. on movies but Thorne Field, the Tri-Rho housing group will face off rarely in real against their long-time rival AEX in their annual football life” game.

game as a “microcosm of David and Goliath” with AEX being Goliath because of their larger team and broader fan base. Repp further remarked that “such a game is often portrayed in movies but rarely in real life.”

Along with impressive athletic feats and entertaining plays, the game will also include commentators from each team and impartial referees who represent the public. Weese teased that AEX, particularly sophomore class president Jackson Hays, has been working on their touchdown celebrations. Both teams stressed that they have put time, energy and even money ─ all AEX players have purchased new football cleats ─ into this game and hope that their work is ap-

preciated by the campus.

Grossman also emphasized that this event is good for the campus because it exemplifies the “benefit of (housing) groups” and what students gain from being involved in one. The groups get to experience competition and rivalry but also share “friendships and inside jokes” according to Grossman. Weese added that this also “serves as a stress reliever” for all the members of the groups and “gives them something fun to look forward to before finals.”

The game itself is not the only facet of this annual tradition. Coach Weese shared that AEX has a tradition of watching Braveheart for 24 hours straight in the coach’s room to remind all the players that “win or lose they’ll go down with a fight.”

Additionally, the winning team is awarded a tray reading “Property of AEX” on one side and “Property of Tri-Rhos” on the other. The winning team gets to keep the tray on their hall until the next game. The Tri-Rhos won last year and allegedly have kept the tray in a case since last year’s match. This has served as a motivator to AEX to “bring it home” this

year. Weese went so far as to say that it is “demoralizing to not have it one the hall.”

This game means a great deal to both groups, but the rivalry runs deeper than just football. The groups have been at odds almost since their founding in the 1970s.

Repp claimed that the rivalry between the groups is even stronger off the field.

He alleged that the game is “multi-faceted and complex” but that it is also a “unifying factor because it relies on a mutual agreement to play the game.” However, Weese asserted that the rivalry is much more intense on the field this year due to all the behind-the-scenes efforts and preparations.

Weese closed his remarks by announcing that “if AEX wins this year, the Rhos cancel the Ganz or AEX plans it.” Grossman echoed the sentiment by saying the Rhos’ goal is to “just have a good time and crush AEX.” As insults are slung, Repp revealed that “it’s not about trash talk because actions speak louder than words” and that the Rhos are certain to win. To observe the outcome for yourselves, join the crowd tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Thorn Field.

sweet bud of a romance, or you might just nip that bud.

While it is certainly important to ask the right questions, you should also take careful note of what questions the other person asks.

Where do they lead the conversation? Are they interested in getting to know you?

Their questions are just as important as their answers.

As far as what you can do to lead the conversation, well, there are several things you can bring up. If you aren’t afraid to bring out the big guns, you can ask “What do you want out of life?”

To tone that down just a smidge, you might ask what they want out of college and this season. If you want to be just slightly more subtle, ask questions about their childhood and what their family is like. A person’s family is the biggest influence on them, and that’s the best gauge of who they are and who they will be. You can also learn a great deal by asking about their friends and who they choose to spend time with.

These are the biggest influences on their lives right now, but they get to choose their friends. If the opportu-

nity presents itself, share as much as you’re comfortable with about your own family, friends and goals. This is not necessarily discussing particular topics or issues that you might be concerned about, but it’s laying your cards on the table much more than you might imagine.

Staff Writer

The game has been a tradition between the two groups for roughly three decades.

AEX coach and quarterback senior Greg Weese said that his father played in the AEX vs. Rho’s football game but he played for the Rho team, making this a multi-generational competition.

Both teams have put in months of practice and hours of strategizing and have promised that this will be a must-see event. While the forecast predicts almost certain rain and a high of 43 degrees, the teams insist the game will be worth braving the weather. The coach and center for the Rho’s, senior Riley Grossman, claimed there is nothing better to do on a Friday night than watch such a competitive and rivalrous game.

Junior Rho quarterback Caleb Repp described the

- Caleb Repp

What questions should I ask on the first date?

I want to start a serious relationship and make sure I understand my partner, but I’m not sure what questions I should ask. I take my values seriously and want to be on the same page with whoever I date, but I’m scared I’ll be too forward if I bring those things up on a first date. Should I just keep our conversations surfacelevel for a little while? Do I put all my cards on the table at once?

Sincerely,Tongue-tied Grover Dear Grover,

Dear Dr. Love This is an excellent question. A first date could be a

Auspiciously, Dr. Love Love M.D.

The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 5

Seven questions with…

Dr. Cedric Lewis

Professor of Entrepreneurship Helena Ritenour Staff Writer

GCC FACEBOOK

From left to right: Competition winners Weslay Morgan and Amber Willis pictured with honorable mentions Eleah Leng and Emma Danielson..

Students showcase talents Eden Grosh

Contributing Writer Senior voice performance major Amber Willis and sophomore piano and organ performance major Wesley Morgan were the winners of the 30th annual Concerto/ Aria Competition.

Willis, a soprano, sang a piece from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette titled “Ah! Je veux vivre” in and Morgan played Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, movement 3, “Presto-Molto allegro e vivace.”

Willis has been studying voice for 10 years and is studying to be a classical singer, which includes music that has a flow, rhythm and a sense of carrying the listener with it, as well as opera performance.

Morgan has been playing piano since he was five years old. He enjoys every minute of it and couldn’t imagine

himself studying any other field.

A concerto includes playing an orchestral instrument with an orchestra and an aria is a song sung and accompanied by an orchestra. The applicants of the competition must be sophomores, juniors and seniors who have completed at least three semesters of private lessons before selection.

Eleven students one senior, four juniors and six sophomores, were chosen to compete from many different departments. The process before the competition is very taxing, involving a lot of paperwork, practicing, time, effort and dress rehearsals. Willis and Morgan, and all the competitors, began practicing for their respective pieces during the spring semester of last school year.

Morgan fondly recalled the sense of community that was fostered between the com-

petitors: “It’s not cutthroat at all… everybody’s very supportive, encouraging and wants to see everybody else do really well…no matter what happens, you know people are going to be backing you,” Morgan said.

Each competitor was judged based on tone quality, rhythm, musicianship, technique/intonation and stage presence, with the potential to score up to 50 points.

When asked about his emotions as it pertains to winning the competition, Morgan found himself both shocked and ecstatic. Playing with an orchestra had been one of the dreams he had been hoping to achieve for a long time. Willis echoed Morgan’s statement, adding that she is excited to sing opera again, as she was performing abroad during the summer.

The two winners will go

on to perform with a full orchestra at the College’s Symphony Orchestra concert on Feb. 9.

When asked what the next steps are and how they will use or perform their pieces in the future, Willis commented that the successful competition results will aid her as she is applies to grad school.

She will submit the recording of her performance to the respective schools as part of the acceptance process. Morgan potentially could use the same piece in other competitions, but he is not sure yet of what his future plans may be or how his piece will influence his study or craft.

They are both delighted to perform with the orchestra in February and will continue to seek the Lord’s guidance as to how they can live out the callings, dreams and talents God has given them and placed on their hearts.

What made you decide that you wanted to become a professor at GCC? My wife! She’s an alum; we were dating long distance, and she introduced me to the College. I was already teaching, and God opened doors when we were deciding next steps.

If you were a dog, what breed would you be?

A boxer. Tough exterior, very protective and full of fight, yet affectionate, loving and loyal.

What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Live your life for an audience of One and the rest will take care of itself. In other words, when you do, the God in you, will pour out into everything else around you.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Alum making a difference with IJM

Don’t tell my wife, I’ll deny it! Matching family pajamas for our annual Christmas Eve photos.

Mia Gallagher

What’s your go-to Chick Fil A order?

Staff Writer

Among the many goals we set before ourselves in life, two particularly stand out and relate directly to our pursuits here at Grove JACOB SIMS City College: finding a rewarding, fulfilling career and working to make the world a better place. While each of us will achieve these goals in different ways, one particular Grove City alumnus, Jacob Sims ’10, has the unique opportunity to truly impact global communities in need every day.

Through his work over the past four years with the International Justice Mission (IJM), Sims has not only had a hand in helping underserved East Asian communities but has taken an active role in fighting injustices currently taking place.

For three and a half years, Sims had the opportunity to serve as Director of IJM’s work in Cambodia, where he led a team of 40 in the fight against labor trafficking. This past July, however, he tran-

sitioned into a new twofold role. Not only does he now help lead IJM’s regional labor trafficking initiative but has also become their global subject matter expert on transnational crime and human trafficking for forced criminal purposes.

“I’m excited to be stepping into such a role...and more than a little overwhelmed by all the unknowns…The phenomenon of forced scamming is pressing urgency into a long felt need for greater integration of our regional advocacy, media/comms, grants and implementing partnerships work – across all our case types,” Sims said.

“I’ll guide our team of brilliant regional advisors who already capably support our country offices in these functions. Together, we will try to take this portfolio to the next level – injecting some beautiful chaos into a few major systems of violent exploitation against the poor.”

Sims’s involvement with labor trafficking and forced

labor dates back to his early days with IJM, where he and his team watched incidents of it increase in the wake of COVID-19. Since then, IJM has not only been able to provide direct relief to hundreds of forced scamming victims from over 35 countries, but also drawn international attention to the issue as well.

“I’m amazed to see how small acts of courage and solidarity from our Cambodia team back in 2020 have ushered IJM into much deeper collaboration with a phenomenal set of global partners. This is now a global issue, and it demands a global response. It is encouraging to see one beginning to emerge,” Sims said.

With these two unique roles comes equally unique day-to-day responsibilities.

Whether it’s chatting with journalists about emerging trends in the region, checking in with staff and team members regionally and worldwide or keeping in contact with international partners and law enforcement bodies, each day presents its share of opportunities to fight for justice for all.

Sims’s first exposure to IJM and its incredible work

came in the form of an internship he completed while at GCC. Although he pursued a degree in accounting, both this internship and another introduced him to his true vocational calling and convinced him to pursue a career in humanitarian work instead. With the guidance of professors like Dr. Jennifer Scott and Dr. Tim Mech, he learned what it would take to succeed in his chosen career space.

While Sims claims that there are many barriers that make entering the humanitarian field difficult, he believes it is a rewarding and worthwhile career for those prepared to put in the work to achieve it. His final words of advice to the GCC community echo those shared in his book, “WanderLOST: Stories from the Winding Road Toward Significance:” “Ultimately, what matters is who you are and who you can become, and perhaps who is there alongside you for the ride. I think my advice in general would be to focus on those things; try to have fun while you’re at it; and let the rest take care of itself.”

Eight-piece nuggets, waffle fries and diet lemonade.

If you were to speak in chapel, what would you talk about?

Faith in all circumstances. It’s been a recurring theme that I have preached over the last year.

What is your favorite memory from this semester so far?

Presentation day in my ENTR 102 class. Students must include in their presentation things that they learned that would stick with them. Every student, after the normal practical skills, included something that had nothing to do with business skills. It was a devotional time I shared with them, “Planted, Not Buried.”

Through the Lens

Through the lens, Feb. 22, 2019

Page 6

The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Walking in a Winter Wonderland Fall semester winds down as snow settles on campus

Elizabeth Hasse

Hunter Hardin

2023 wraps up at Grove City College with a flurry of events and assignments as campus becomes a snowglobe. The sudden frigid temperatures after a warmer semster are almost worth it for the few days of snow that we have seen.

The vibrant colors of campus still peek out from under the blanket of soft white snow. In the same way, campus life is still vibrant and buzzing in spite of the cool, red-nosed temperatures.

Make sure to take a break and walk through our winter wonderland (with a hot

Annie Grace Smith

Elizabeth Hasse

chocolate in hand)!

by Grace David, Photo Chief

The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 7

Hunter Hardin

Elizabeth Hasse

Mia Campagna

Perspectives The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 8

Greta Gerwig walks through the wardrobe

IGN.COM

Grace Scheller Perspectives Editor

It is the year of Greta Gerwig.

The director has seen more than $1.3 billion worldwide for her most recent film “Barbie,” which is now the highest-grossing film of Warner Bros. Her success with “Barbie” is undeniable, and it has now led her to write and direct two new “Chronicles of Narnia” films.

“Narnia,” a beloved collection of novels by C.S. Lewis, are books whose content is heavily based on Christianity and is beloved by Christians everywhere. And what’s not beloved by Christians everywhere? Greta Gerwig and “Barbie.”

It’s no surprise the maker of one of the most controversial movies of the last five

years has not gone over well with the Christian community. And now that Gerwig is set to direct the adaptations of the Christian novels only second to the Bible, the controversy remains.

But what if it didn’t have to? What if us Christians were able to let our guard down? These novels are up for interpretation just like any other work of art. Even the Bible has room for interpretation, room we ignore frequently in our search for absolute truth.

We as Christians get so lost in the meaning of what we believe is right that we forget we have nowhere near as many answers as we think.

And we can’t sever the entirety of the secular world from our conscience just because we deem them unworthy of listening to.

An understanding of others and the inner workings of their reasoning is crucial for

those decidedly Christian.

The common phrase, “in the world but not of the world” floats above the discussion of the arts low enough to influence what’s being said, but not low enough to truly unpack. At first understanding, the application of this phrase to the secular arts discussion is obvious: A total rejection of this culture is not necessary, but neither is any participation past cautious observation.

Through this logic, Christians have created a sub-division of culture, one founded strictly on finding truth.

Quoted author of “Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts” Steve Turner states, “The complexities of human life were overlooked in a search for ‘the simple truth.’ Christian fiction, for example, lacked the deep texture of real life because its writers were merely using the form to evangelize peo-

ple they imagined would be adverse to the gospel in any other form.”

In creating this Christian subculture, we have undone our own work. We further alienate the very community we wish to draw others toward.

Here’s where my understanding lives: The “Narnia” series is a rare Christian work that does not fall under this subculture, making it all the more meaningful to Christians. And the concern for Gerwig’s adaptations is incredibly reasonable.

But perhaps we choose to be “in the world” in a different way, a way in which we are comfortably surrounded by our neighbors and their many diverse understandings.

Gerwig is not devoid of Christianity, she just sees it differently. In fact, Gerwig attended an “all girls’ Catholic high school in Sacramento,

California,” she told Vogue Magazine. Surprisingly, she further went on to discuss Barbie’s unlikely inspiration by comparing specific shots to the book of Genesis: “Barbie was invented first. Ken was invented after Barbie, to burnish Barbie’s position in our eyes and in the world.”

Although completely unorthodox, Gerwig’s interpretation is just as reasonable as the typical Christian interpretation, and it doesn’t mean her vision for “Narnia” will be incorrect. We have a responsibility to welcome all understandings, even the ones coated in pink and glitter.

For Gerwig and Lewis’s sake, let’s take Lewis’s advice: “Rinse out what is stale in our thinking about Christianity – which is almost everything.”

in door-to-door voter conversations with the SBA Pro-Life America’s student canvassing program in Columbus, Ohio prior to the vote. She offered the following analysis: “Many things contributed to the loss in Ohio. Pro-abortion groups outspent pro-life groups. They also lied to voters, saying that miscarriage care could become illegal without Issue 1. However, the primary takeaway from this election is that the American people are still pro-choice.

They are more afraid of losing access to abortion than they are horrified by abortion itself. The only way this will change is if ordinary people make it their responsibility to learn the logic of the pro-life worldview and practice making the case against abortion persuasively and relationally.”

Continuing Liliana’s theme, I have noticed a cultural shift in my hometown.

As kids, we would see the rare

political sign around the time of presidential elections, but the signs were evenly split on abortion. Since I came to Grove City in 2020, I have returned to an increasingly pro-choice neighborhood every time I went home. Signs are now common year-round and tend to be skewed in one direction. Conversely, I can’t remember the last time I saw a distinctly pro-life sign in my neighborhood. I think that the signs are a fairly good approximation of the conversations happening (or not happening).

While pro-life legislators and activists pursued every possible countermeasure since August, I wonder if Ohio voters relied solely on the vote to counter abortion activists while failing to pursue pro-life apologetics in their own backyards. Fears of extreme negative reactions from pro-choice neighbors may be reasonable but are not a justification for passivity. The belligerent pro-

choice coworker or friend who dominates the conversation for undecided voters is the one who needs to be answered most.

In my limited experience, there are many pro-choicers who are not firmly convinced of their own beliefs.

On one occasion, compassionately addressing the crimes of rape and incest was extremely challenging, but my pro-choice acquaintance told me afterward that she was willing to listen because I demonstrated equal concern for both the mother and the child. Another prochoice acquaintance told me, “I personally don’t agree with abortion, but I still support a woman’s right to her body.”

At that point, I chose to defer to an expert. In a welldesigned YouTube video, former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino narrated a computer animation depicting the surgical procedures of abortions in the first, second and third trimesters.

After watching the video, my acquaintance was suddenly speechless. He didn’t admit it, but it was obvious that Dr. Levatino had put a very sharp pebble in his shoe.

Clearly, I’m an armchair quarterback. I am calling for increased courage for myself and all Ohioans to do more than vote. We need to summon the courage to undergo social ostracism to defend the lives of the unborn lovingly and prayerfully with the hopes that some hearts will begin to change. If that’s too much to handle, then volunteering for sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics or pregnancy care centers, as well as preserving faithful marriages and families is even more critical now that all legal options have been removed. A safe environment like Grove City is the best place to practice these skills and values now so that when the hard conversations happen in the real world, we will be ready.

A call for pro-life courage

Etienne Pienaar Contributing Writer

As an Ohioan, I grieve the recent vote to pass Issue 1.

The constitutional amendment, despite its confusing language, inadvertently acknowledges the humanity of the unborn (referring explicitly to an “unborn child”) and yet makes doctors the sole arbiter of whether that child is “viable” and whether an abortion is “necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health.”

In the minds of pro-choice doctors, if a woman wants an abortion at any stage of pregnancy for any reason, then it is absolutely necessary for her life and health.

How did this vote pass?

And what can pro-life Ohioans do now?

Liliana Zylstra, the President of Grove City College Life Advocates, participated

The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

The need for screens

Zachary Warrick Contributing Writer

Sophomore Max Ware tucked himself in bed on a warm summer night with a refreshing breeze through the windows.

At around 3:00 a.m., Ware woke up with a pain shooting from his face down his arm.

After scrambling over to a mirror, Ware said, “I looked like a realistic gnome!” He had been attacked by mosquitoes. His nose had swollen to the size of a golf ball and was red like Rudolph’s.

Fortunately, lived to tell the tale.

“I’m okay, but, man, that was a little scary; screens would definitely help prevent things like this from happening,” Ware said.

Due to the frequency with which students keep windows open throughout the year, all dormitory windows should have screens, but not all of them do. Bats, mosquitoes, birds and other critters should live separately from humans.

When approached with

Page 9

the issue, President McNulty ‘80, agreed that the dorms, primarily on the men’s side of campus, are, in his words, “long overdue for major renovation.”

As I started researching and communicating with the college staff, I became aware that they were in agreement with my opinion and, in fact, had already established steps to reach the goal of having screened windows throughout dorms. My opinion has shifted, and I now wish to help students understand the situation from the college’s perspective and allow them to extend patience and kindness to the administration.

The unfavorable reputation of the dorms on campus is known and understood.

The dorms are clearly old and in less-than-ideal shape.

Students often blame the administration for this issue when the administration is frankly doing everything in their power to honor the students’ needs. I encourage students to be respectful of the college and, at minimum, tolerate and contain their emotions about the state of the dorms.

President McNulty offers

encouragement and is impressed by the mindset of the men on campus. “The attitude the men here at Grove City have about the res halls is good. They are of humility, flexibility and willingness to adapt, and we very much appreciate it,” McNulty said.

He urges students to maintain this gracious perspective as the college staff are working diligently to move forward with the plans.

Men’s dorms on campus were built over a large span of time in the 1900s: Ketler (1932), Lincoln (1941), Hopeman (1950), Hicks (1967) and Memorial (1996). On the women’s side, dorms were built throughout a similar stretch of time: Mary Anderson Pew (MAP) South and West (1937), Harker (1971) and Mary Ethel Pew (MEP) (1982).

The women’s dormitories were renovated around a decade ago: MEP in 2015, MAP North in 2011 and MAP West in 2014. Questions have arisen as to why the women’s dorms were improved and given screens while the men’s dorms, though built around the same stretch of time, have yet to be renovated.

In response, McNulty relays the state of the women’s dorms was significantly better than the men’s dorms, requiring less money and time to renovate. The MEP renovation, for example, was only a half-million dollar project and was completed in one summer due to its limited necessary areas of improvement, one being screens.

On the men’s side of campus, dormitories require new plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems and a complete gutting of the insides, as well as windows, screens and potentially new furniture. According to McNulty, full renovations of Lincoln, Hopeman and Ketler could cost upwards of $10 million per building or approximately $25 million in total.

The Director of Operations, Susan Grimm, explains that even if the only task was to install screens, it is not as simple as just snapping screens to the windows.

This requires replacing windows as well as designing a new window and window frame system that is compatible with screens. This alone is not a cheap operation, especially when multiplied by

five buildings.

The college has launched the Impact 150 campaign, which entails multiple phases of campus improvements, new buildings and renovation. In the near future, the plan is to fully strip and renovate Ketler, Lincoln and Hopeman, according to Grimm. Finally, the administration must wait for the necessary funds to come in from the campaign before they can move forward with the plan.

“Everybody realizes the open window with no screens is not preferable. Renovating the dorms is clearly a necessary part of the campaign.

Now it’s just a question of time and money,” McNulty said.

Screens have been experimentally installed in parts of Ketler dormitory. Although there is no clear timeline, dormitory renovations are among the top priorities of the college at this moment.

Contrary to the popular belief regarding these screens, our student body’s requests are being met, it’s just a matter of time.

U.S. experience some mental illness according to 2022 data from Mental Health America. That may sound like a lot, but it’s still a minority of people; therefore, the other 80% should be considered mentally healthy. Most of us do not need to worry about this supposedly ever-present factor of life. An estimated 49.5% of adolescents experience a mental health disorder at some point according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, this includes depression and behavior disorders, which can be temporary.

Since mental illness only affects a minority of people, or at least not most people for an extended period of time, we need to be better

stewards of how it is referenced and conceptualized.

Mental health is too easily thrown around. It has turned into an excuse with no true accountability. Terms like depression, anxiety and trauma have been overused to the point that they don’t mean as much anymore. While these acute mental conditions can affect anybody, they are infrequent and often misapplied. They have become trendy and attention-seeking buzzwords that are inappropriate for many people to use all the time.

Certain “fashionable diagnoses” come in waves of popularity, as described by Dr. Martin Bright, professor of Psychology and Sociology.

He noted: “…everyone has

sub-clinical something, and a few people will pass that threshold of having significant enough symptoms for a specific duration and meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental illness.”

We would much rather complain about regular mental emotions than choose to deal with them in a pragmatic and honest manner.

Today it is nearly impossible to walk into any corporate or academic setting without hearing some long-winded commitment to prioritizing the mental health of its participants. While this may appear to demonstrate a positive societal shift towards mutual care, it actually illustrates an overall degradation of self-reliance and allows for

an attitude of helplessness.

Referencing mental health should be reserved for those with real mental illness that is beyond their own control.

While everyday emotions may get the better of us, they are still very much under the obedience of our conscience.

We should treat this reality like a thermostat, not a thermometer.

Using clinical language to describe non-clinical situations is the biggest crime of it all. Real struggles for real people have been reduced to toyish inconveniences. It is insulting to their lifelong battles to which we will never fully relate. If mental health is to have a proper place in society, its misguided applications must be denounced.

to Massa, who won 44.3 percent of the vote.

The results were historic as Meili’s victory marked the highest voting percentage since its transition from Junta to democracy. It also marked the first time a libertarian has held the office of President in Argentina.

Understanding Argentina’s historic election requires a bit of context. For the past several years, Argentina has been experiencing severe economic conditions because of the weak performance under the current left-wing Peronist regime. Argentina’s left-wing government, led by President Alberto Fernandez, has failed to deal with the worsening economic downturn that has resulted from the nation’s ongoing debt crisis caused by the regime’s focus on controlling the Argentine Peso (Argentina’s currency) and failure to

pay on its foreign debts.

According to the Ministry of Economy of Argentina, the nation’s public debt constitutes 80.62 percent of the nation’s GDP. Additionally, the regime’s failure with the debt crisis in conjunction with its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major spike in the inflation rate from 8.3 percent to 142.7 percent, along with a rising poverty rate currently 40 percent.

These conditions pushed the people of Argentina towards finally electing a more rightward-libertarian figure like Meili.

While some would regard Argentina’s election as unimportant for us here in the United States, it should remind us of the dangers brought on by central planning. In the past several decades, it has become more apparent that the United

States has seen a major shift away from our free market foundations towards extensive state intervention.

One can clearly see this shift when looking at the persistent increase in federal spending, the extensive use of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve and the rise of a growing bureaucratic state.

Now, we often hear from our elected officials that such actions are undertaken for “the greater good” or “betterment of society,” and that if we simply let them continue to intervene in the economy, we will somehow reach greater levels of economic prosperity.

Despite our politicians’ efforts to woo us into granting them more power, we must wake up to the realization that much of the economic strife we face today is a result of state intervention. As of

now, The U.S. faces a $33.8 trillion debt while inflation continues to rise and more regulations are being imposed, all of which have done nothing but result in fewer opportunities for Americans and cause greater human depravity.

As Ludwig Von Mises once said, “Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop.”

Upon looking at the present situation in Argentina, we should realize state central planning has been the roadblock to economic prosperity, not its provider. If we want to seek greater economic prosperity and human flourishing, we must return to the free-market ideals that have made us the richest and most prosperous nation in the world.

Mental illness is not the majority Isaac White

Contributing Writer The stigma surrounding mental health has been too far reduced. What was once a touchy subject has suddenly become a moral absolute. As our scientific understanding has continued to grow, it has morphed into a monument of incontestable knowledge protected by a bulwark of cultural norms. Among that knowledge is the idea that mental health is an everpresent threat that everyone must stay on guard for in their life. This is simply not true.

Nearly 20% of adults in the

Freedom of the market, not the state Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

As many of us were returning home to enjoy our Thanksgiving break, an unexpected and historic surprise came from a nation seeking to save itself from the brink.

On Nov. 18, Javier Meili, the leader of Argentina’s Libertarian Party, won the Argentinian presidency over Sergio Massa, the current Minister of Economy.

Meili’s rise to becoming the next President of Argentina was a surprise for everyone. He rose steadily in the polls in the first round of the election, coming in second place with 29.9 percent of the vote and going on to win the election in the second round with 55.6 percent compared

Entertainment The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 10

‘The Holdovers’: Hope for the holidays David Smith Staff Writer

Alexander Payne’s new film “The Holdovers” is not only his best film to date but also an instant classic.

I distinctly remember the last time I’d seen a movie as comprehensively beautiful as “The Holdovers.” It was approximately 10 years ago when I saw “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” After watching Wes Anderson’s excellent movie, I was certain not too many others could exceed my expectations. Some movies have come close over the years. “The Holdovers,” however, is unique.

Immediately in “The Holdovers,” we are introduced to Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a boarding school teacher at Barton Academy in New England. The year is 1970 and the month is December.

Hunham is grading papers, talking out loud, uttering imaginary insults: “rancid Philistines” and “snarling Visigoths.” He is a mean-spirited miser, clearly indignant about something from his past. Almost every night he stumbles into bed, which is kind of comical, after topping off a handle of Jim Beam.

As students and faculty are slowly departing for Christ-

mas vacation, we are introduced to Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a student whose mother and her new husband have abruptly planned their honeymoon, leaving Tully behind. We are also introduced to Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), a cook at Barton whose son was tragically killed in Vietnam.

Hunham, Mary, Tully and other assorted students remain at Barton over the break. At first, Hunham manages the students’ holiday break activities, making the break as miserable for them as it is for him: imposing exercise outside in the cold and holding class when it is unnecessary. But over the course of the film, expectations are completely altered and character transformations occur.

Paul Giamatti is Payne’s sardonic muse again for the first time in nearly twenty years since “Sideways.” It is no coincidence that Hunham’s character is also named Paul. Payne had envisioned Giamatti playing the role, and he’s perfect for it.

Giamatti’s portrayal of Hunham is immaculate, illustrating the character’s blatant amblyopia. Still, it is the witty banter that Hunham

FRAME.IO INSIDER

exudes, written sharply by David Hemingson, it is like any faux-academia jargon, which enhances the friction between the students and teacher. Tully asks him at one point: “What eye should I look at?” as a joke.

In fact, there are many laugh-out-loud moments.

The students get into various shenanigans, pranking each other and breaking the rules.

Legally, in real life, the characters might end up in jail for their indiscreet behaviors.

There is one scene where Hunham is chasing after Tully in the school halls, leading to the gymnasium, which is entirely hilarious until Tully takes it too far.

Ultimately, though, the film is like a cozy winter coat.

We laugh, we cry and we see an unlikely bond between a grieving black woman, a miserable middle-aged teacher and a lanky know-it-all whose comebacks make him appear more intelligent than his grades prove.

All Christmas films have an inherent sadness, but what the film does with that sadness is what makes or breaks it. “The Holdovers” takes three sad stories, provides appropriate humor and makes us fall in love with it all. The grainy film aspect of each shot transports us back to 1970. Everything in the film feels like it is from that

era. There are even some key song choices, such as “No Matter What” by Bad Finger and “Time Has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers. The incorporation of the Chambers Brothers beckons the Hal Ashby movie “Coming Home.” Wholistically, “The Holdovers” feels quite comparable to an Ashby film in its pacing. We don’t know what will happen next.

Halfway through, I was completely clueless about where it was going, but I knew that I wanted to go there. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I will be revisiting “The Holdovers” very soon. There is no better time to check it out than now.

‘Scary Hours 3’

Dom Puglisi

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

‘Five Nights’ flops Vince Clay

Entertainment Editor Last month, cinemas around the nation were blessed with the first installment of a new horror movie franchise ─ Five Nights at Freddy’s.

The movie, directed by Emma Tammi and starring Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail, is based on the 2014 horror video game of the same name. The premise of said game is simple; you must survive five nights as a security guard working the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a dilapidated Chuck E. Cheese-style family entertainment center filled with animatronic animals that are pure nightmare fuel.

For longtime fans, the road from the underground indie video game to feature film has been a long and winding one.

In the beginning, there was a genuine mystery and fear surrounding the game.

The movements of the animatronics were rickety.

The player had very limited mobility, only able to close doors, turn on lights and check security cameras.

What resulted in this format

was a game with an electric sense of originality and utter claustrophobia.

However, as the game’s popularity grew, so did the need for more: more characters, more lore and more games. The series blossomed into books, merch and a slew of games that rehashed the same ideas as the first and added lore for filler.

The potential for a modern classic in horror cinema was there. On paper, the schtick is a no-brainer. For the first time, the horror movie monsters are the uncanny animatronics at your local Chuck E. Cheese. It is a completely unmined vein of potential.

Whether it be from a comedic angle, like the 1990’s “It” miniseries, or from a genuinely frightening angle, like “The Exorcist,” the movie could have been the dawn of a new household name in horror cinema.

Instead, this movie flops somewhere in the middle, unable to commit to one camp or the other. It is clear to see that the movie was born from that need for “more.” Instead of packing genuine frights, a terrifying atmosphere or a campy wink, this movie spends much of

its time bogged down in explaining old video game lore that has already been oversaturated amongst fans and the public.

What works for creating tension and terror in a video game is ultimately not going to be what works for the big screen, and no one involved with this movie seemed to have a grasp on that.

The jokes flop and the story is unnecessarily convoluted. Elizabeth Lail’s acting as Vanessa, the police officer, is flat-out bad, and Josh Hutcherson’s presence, while a cool A-list accessory, does not offer anything to the movie.

The producers also undershot its audience: the movie is clearly aimed for a PG-13 tween audience. However, it is likely that most of the actual viewers of this movie are young adults who played the games in their teens.

Perhaps looking at this movie so critically is a waste of time. However, for those who lived to experience the frights of the original games, this movie is a major disappointment.

All this to say, the producers could have spent a couple more nights at Fazbear’s to flesh this one out.

Staff Writer “Scary Hours 3” by Drake is the rapper’s new EP to compliment his previous record this year “For All the Dogs”. This EP instantly has a vastly different sound than his last few projects, with the beats sounding artsy, dusty and vintage and the rapping being far more laidback, lyrical and off-the-cuff.

The album opens on a high note with “Red Button,” a fabulous intro with a lush vocal-based beat, rapping all about how everyone has counted him out time and again. He gained some traction online for his typical shoutouts and callouts to celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kanye West as well as dropping some wellthought-out one-liners such as, “Even when you pad the stats, period, I never hated.”

Drake is attempting to come across as a more lyrical and thoughtful MC than on his more party-based records, to varying degrees of success. “Stories About My Brother” is successful on this front as he raps over a smooth sax-driven beat, rhyming double entendres about his close friend.

Overall, he succeeds in presenting a more sophisticated edge to his musical talents on this track, pulling out some of his best wordplay on lines like, “My brother robbin’ it down and you juniors like Iron Man.” Unfortunately, his clev-

er bars seem to end here.

“The Shoe Fits” showcases the faults in Drake’s writing with his attempts to convey some social commentary a la Andre 3000 regarding women. He raps about women who through themselves at guys who treat them poorly and how guys need to treat their girls better. This sounds awfully ironic coming from the guy who promotes a freewheeling player lifestyle and often disses old love interests all over his songs.

He does not sound like a wizened elder trying to help the younger generation here but rather someone stuck in this cycle of cheap romance.

He also perpetually uses the same flow across most of these songs, often coming off as disinterested. The album takes its final turn for the worse with “Wick Man” and “You Broke My Heart.”

Drake gives up his mature persona for these songs, instead opting to lifelessly rap about how tough and seductive he is.

This EP could have been special had Drake fully committed to the more highbrow lyrical classic style he started out with, but he doesn’t have enough personality or writing ability on the mic to carry a more lyrical project and therefore nosedives into mediocre B-sides towards the end. Score: 61/100. Fav Track: “Stories About My Brother” Least Fav Track: “Wick Man”

Correction from Nov. 3 issue

Staff Writer David Smith should be credited with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” his review of Martin Scorsese’s newest film.

Entertainment Editor Vince Clay should be credited with “Spoiler alert: There’s an exorcism”

Sports The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 11

Men rebound after two losses

Sports at a Glance

Joel Sledd Sports Editor

After losing two games in a row, the Wolverine Men’s Basketball team bounced back in a 77-73 victory over Westminster. The Wolverines are now off to a 5-2 start and a 2-2 conference record.

This is the first time the Wolverines have won five out of their first seven games since the 2017-2018 season.

The Wolverines drew first blood with a layup from junior guard Ben Cano. Midway through the first half, Westminster mustered up eight points in a row to extend the lead to 14-5. The Wolverines responded with their own uninterrupted 10-point series to take the lead 17-14. The Wolverines entered the half four points behind 33-29.

The second half consisted mostly of back-and-forth scoring with constant lead changes. Holding a 74-73 lead with one minute left, three free-throws made by junior guard Chase Yarberough extended Grove City’s lead to 77-73, and Westminster was unable to recover.

The Wolverines performed exceptionally well in the second half where they scored 48 points and made seven three-pointers from nine attempts.

Westminster was outplayed by the Wolverines’ aggressive offense in nearly every statistic, holding a better field goal and three-point percentage.

Yarberough and sophomore guard Mike Christenson led the charge, each scoring 22 points. Yarberough also led Grove City in rebounds with seven followed closely behind by junior forward John Ward with six rebounds.

The Wolverines’ second loss of the season came at the hands of the Franciscan Barons in a close final score of 77-78. The Wolverines held a 30-25 lead over the Barons late in the first half, but the Barons scored 11 uninterrupted points before the half ending, overtaking the Wolverines 36-30.

Results

Men’s Basketball (5-2):

Nov. 29, Win, vs. Westminster (77-73) Nov. 21, Loss, @ Franciscan (77-78) Nov. 15 Loss, vs. Geneva (44-68)

Women’s Basketball:

Nov. 29, Win, vs. Westminster (76-60) Nov. 21, Win, @ Franciscan (68-53) Nov. 18, Win, vs. Geneva (83-78)

Men’s Swimming (2-1):

Nov. 18, Loss, @ Rochester (133-147) Nov. 11, Win, vs. Saint Vincent (130-101)

Women’s Swimming (2-1): Nov. 18, Loss, @ Rochester (109-188)

Nov. 11, Win, vs. Saint Vincent (162.5-108.5)

Football (11-1): Nov. 25, Loss, @ Cortland (20-21) Nov. 18, Win, @ Susquehanna (25-24)

Upcoming

GRACE DAVID

Junior guard Chase Yarberough in action against Allegheny.

With five minutes left in the second half, Yarberough made two three-pointers to give the Wolverines a 68-64 lead. With 18 seconds left in the game and a two-point lead over Franciscan, a Baron forward made a threepoint shot to seal the game.

“The reason we lost was turning the ball over too many times. There were really costly turnovers, but the nice thing is it’s something we can control,” said Head Coach Steve Lamie ’85.

“Our offense was good enough. Our half-court defense was good enough,” he said.

“We want to cut down the turnovers. We know that the other parts of the game are pretty solid and we’re getting better at it.”

Despite this, the Wolverines’ offense has outperformed their opponents in several games so far. The

Wolverines held a better field goal percentage, free throw percentage and more rebounds than Franciscan.

Yarberough led Grove City with 28 points and junior guard Jonah Bock led in three-point field goals with three.

“We are running the offense really well,” said Lamie.

“We’re much better at it this year than we were at the end of last year.”

Grove City currently ranks sixth in the PAC conference standings. Saint Vincent and Geneva are at the top with an undefeated record against PAC opponents.

Also ahead of Grove City is Allegheny, whose only conference loss came against the Wolverines, and Waynesburg College.

The Wolverines will travel to play at Saint Vincent at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 6.

Men’s Basketball:

Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. @ Saint Vincent Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. @ Bethany

Women’s Basketball:

Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m. @ Saint Vincent Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m. @ Bethany

Men’s Swimming: Jan. 12, 6 p.m. vs. Calvin

Jan. 13, 1 p.m. @ Penn State Behrend

Women’s Swimming: Jan. 12, 6 p.m. vs. Calvin

Jan. 13, 1 p.m. @ Penn State Behrend

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Emma Herrmann Emily White Britta Lagerquist Women’s Soccer Women’s Soccer Women’s Soccer First Team All-Region First Team All-Region First Team All-Region

Swimming and diving get first loss of the season Joel Sledd Sports Editor

Exiting their fourth match of the season, the men and women suffered their first and only loss of the season so far against the Rochester Yellowjackets. The Wolverines entered the match with a 4-0 record and a win against Saint Vincent. There were several great individual performers who scored for the Wolverines, but they ultimately lost to the non-conference Yellowjackets.

The men kept the score close, only losing 133-147.

Several individual athletes and medley teams scored to keep Rochester in check. The men opened their match by winning the 200 medley relay and would close the day

by winning the 200 freestyle relay. Sophomore Caleb Einolf won two different events for the Wolverines; the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Freshman Owen Hancock would take first in the 200 butterfly and sophomore Will Sterrett won the 400 individual medley.

The women fielded two athletes with multiple wins.

Senior Rachael Wallace won the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.75 seconds and the 200 butterfly in 2:13.93.

Junior Kamryn Kerr swept women’s diving while facing severe competition from Rochester divers. Kerr won the 1-meter dive with 255.75 points and the 3-meter dive scoring 267.07. Kerr competed with four Rochester divers to score 18 points for

the Wolverines.

Before Thanksgiving break, the Wolverines defended at home against Saint Vincent to earn their third win of the year. The men completely swept their opponents, winning all 14 events for a 130-101 final tally.

Several men won multiple events. Leading the Wolverines were Einolf and Sterrett, each winning three different events. Freshmen C.J. Mayhew and Bryce Pope would each win two events against the Bearcats.

The women faired extremely well, winning 11 events for a 162.5-108.5 victory. Wallace led the team with first place finishes in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

Senior Liz Hasse and ju-

niors Allison Dieter and Kerr would each win two events to catapult the Wolverines into another dominant win.

The Wolverines will face multiple teams at the Calvin Winter Classic invitational, which started yesterday Nov. 30.

This three-day event will take place in Grand Rapids, Mich. and run from Thursday, today and end with the final event tomorrow starting at 6 p.m.

Due to the publishing schedule of this issue, the results for the Calvin Winter Classic cannot be included.

The Wolverines will resume their swimming season next year by hosting Calvin College at 6 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2024, at home in James E. Longnecker pool.

BASKETBALL

continued from 12

Fenchel and sophomore center Emma Ulmer have added depth to the team’s scoring and rebounding efforts, each averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Senior forward Katie Baller, junior center Kiley Ingram and junior forward Blaise Kilmartin have also made notable contributions across the board. The team’s overall statistics indicate a balanced effort, with a shooting percentage of .322 and an average of 64.0 points per game. The team’s success has been built on a collaborative effort, with multiple players making significant contributions in scoring, rebounding and defensive plays.

Due to the publishing schedule of this issue, the results from the Carnegie Mellon game from last night cannot be included. The Wolverines will play at St. Vincent at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday Dec 12.

Sports The Collegian, Dec. 1, 2023

Page 12

Unforgettable season ends Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

After Saturday’s 1-point loss to the No. 11 Cortland Red Dragons in the second round of the Division III NCAA playoffs, the conclusion of Wolverine Football’s historic season has come.

The Wolverines fell to the Red Dragons 25-24 after a back-and-forth battle in the tournament’s Sweet 16. Hundreds of the Wolverine Faithful flocked to Grady Field in Cortland, N.Y. to watch the 11-0 Wolverines take on the 10-1 Red Dragons.

Cortland took a 14-0 lead to begin the game, but the Wolverine offense responded in the second quarter, scoring their first after a gritty, 11-play drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer to senior wide receiver Ryan Heckathorn.

To close the first half, Pfeuffer sent a short pass up the middle to junior wide receiver Ryan Lenhart, tying the game.

In the second half, the Wolverines and Red Dragons took turns adding points to the scoreboard, with Grove City improving the score to 17-14, to which Cortland responded with three points of their own, making it an even 17-17.

A nearly eight-minute drive to open the fourth quarter gave the Wolverines the boost they needed when Pfeuffer connected with senior wide receiver Scott Fraser for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

In their final scoring drive, the Red Dragons took a onepoint lead that secured them the 25-24 win and a spot in the third round of the tournament.

While the three Grove City touchdowns were scored on passing plays, the Wolverine’s run game continued its dominant streak, amassing 184 yards to Cortland’s 83.

Grove City’s defense

Junior wide reciever Ryan Lenhart catching a pass in the homecoming game against Washington & Jefferson. showed up and showed out against Cortland. Sophomore linebacker Jack Jollie and senior cornerback Gabe Dunlap recorded 11 tackles apiece. Sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel chased down two more sacks to add to his season’s total of 17.

Junior running back Nico Flati finished the season with 1234 rushing yards. Fifthyear running back Clayton Parrish finished his final season with a career total 2379 yards and 54 touchdowns.

In Grove City’s 21-20 firstround win over Susquehanna on Nov. 18, Parrish scored two of the Wolverine’s three touchdowns.

Susquehanna opened scoring late in the first quarter, but Grove City answered quickly in their first drive of the second quarter when Parrish bulldozed over the

River Hawk defense for a 28yard run into the endzone to tie up the game 7-7.

At the end of the first half, Susquehanna blocked a field goal attempt, recovered and returned the ball for a touchdown, putting the River Hawks back in the lead 14-7.

To open the second half, Susquehanna put three more points between them and the Wolverines with a 41-yard field goal.

Down ten, Pfeuffer and the Grove City offense took the field to answer the River Hawks. In 13 plays, the Wolverines took the ball 75 yards down the field and made the score 17-14.

The River Hawks kept the ball for 2/3rds of the fourth quarter with a 9-minutelong drive, but the Wolverine defense held them to only a field goal.

The score was 20-14. With no timeouts and only 1:49 to score, 68 yards stood between Grove City and the end zone and a win that would secure them a spot in the second round.

The ball was snapped at the Grove City 32; first play, a pass from Pfeuffer to Fraser. The Wolverines were 7-yards closer. A short pass to the right took the Wolverines to the 50-yard line, the first down secured.

The clock was ticking, they had half the field to go, Pfeuffer slung the ball 23 yards deep down the middle of the field to Heckathorn, who went down at the Susquehanna 27.

The next pass was broken up by the River Hawk defense, making Fraser’s 6-yard reception in the next play short of the first down

GRACE DAVID

and leaving the Wolverines at 3rd and 4.

Another defensive play from the River Hawks set Grove City back again, putting them at 4th and 4 with 40 seconds left. Susquehanna called a timeout.

When both teams retook the field, Grove City kept rolling down the field. A complete pass to Fraser gave the Wolverines a first down at the Susquehanna 13.

Pfeuffer threw the ball into the endzone three times; each time the pass was ruled incomplete. The Wolverines had one down and 13 seconds remaining.

Pfeuffer’s last-ditch pass met the hands of Lenhart in the endzone for a historic touchdown that would give the Wolverines their first NCAA playoff win in program history.

Women’s basketball hits three-win streak Garrett Gess Staff Writer

Wolverine women’s basketball took down Westminster with a final score of 76-60, to extend their threegame winning streak.

The game unfolded across four quarters with Grove City consistently asserting their dominance. They led 23-16 after the first quarter, extended their advantage to 43-34 by halftime and maintained control at 57-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

Grove City sealed the victory in the final period, outscoring Westminster 19-15.

Key contributors for Grove City included sophomore guard Reese Hasley, who led the team with an impressive 20 points, followed by junior guards Jaden Davinsizer and Mara Polczynski with 16. Senior forward Kat Goetz led in rebounds with nine.

Grove City College appointed Jason Baker as interim head women’s basketball coach last May. Baker will be entering his third season with the program this year after spending the last two seasons as assistant coach.

In the early games of the season, Grove City faced a challenging match against No. 20 Mary Washington on Nov. 10, in York, Pa., resulting in a 74-45 loss. However, they quickly rebounded the next day, securing a convincing 73-52 victory over Juniata. Moving forward, the Wolverines hosted Allegheny on Nov. 15, where they experienced a setback with a 6151 defeat.

Determined to recover, they triumphed over Geneva, winning 83-78 in the next game. Grove City continued their winning streak over the Thanksgiving break, with a solid performance at Franciscan, concluding with a 6853 victory.

Goetz emphasized the strong chemistry that is necessary to win, even more so with a new head coach this season. Goetz cited a twopronged approach that’s necessary for a winning season: “Be a better player and be a better teammate.” The Wolverines only had one senior on the roster in each of their previous two seasons, as the meat of the roster has been playing at least three years

with each other, with now three seniors and ten juniors on the roster for 2023-24.

Heading into the Westminster game, the Wolverines have seen several players making significant contributions. Notably, Goetz, who has been a standout player, averaging 13.3 points per game with a shooting percentage of .481.

Davinsizer has also been a key player, showcasing versatility with 11 three-pointers on the year. Polczynski has been a consistent force, contributing both offensively and defensively with 9.6 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard Clara Hannon has demonstrated efficiency with a shooting percentage of .393 and has been crucial in rebounding with an average of 9.4 rebounds per game.

Hasley has been a reliable scorer, contributing 5.6 points per game, while sophomore forward Meredith Sherrerd has been impactful in rebounding with an average of 4.6 rebounds per game. Junior forward Hayley BASKETBALL 11

GRACE DAVID

Junior guard Nevaeh Ewing in the 61-51 victory over Allegheny.